Chartreuse de la Verne and Plateau Lambert

A circular loop in the heart of the Forêt des Maures, where you can admire the Chartreuse de la Verne and the Menhirs du Plateau Lambert.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 20.33 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 429 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 421 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 620 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 310 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from the Croix d'Anselme car park located on the D14 road between the villages of Collobrière and Cogolin.

(S/E) 100 m after leaving the D14 for the road that climbs to the Chartreuse de la Verne, take the path below that runs alongside this road. You will also follow a stream, which will probably be dry in summer.

(1) Cross the ford on the right and go through the red and white barrier. Follow the track as it winds upwards until you reach a junction.

(2) At the bend, turn left and continue along the shaded track until you reach another intersection.

(3) It is easy and tempting to continue straight ahead, but follow the road to the left for a few metres until you reach a path that climbs up to your right (see Practical Information for alternative route).

(4) Turn right for the most difficult part of the hike. A very steep hill for about 1 km.
To avoid the steepness, you can follow the track, but this will inevitably lengthen the route.
At the top of the hill, turn right and continue along the track until you reach an intersection.

(5) Take the path furthest to the left, almost opposite, and descend towards the Chartreuse de la Verne.

(6) Continue eastwards and take the gently ascending tarmac track. At the top, continue straight ahead, ignoring the road that branches off to the right.

(7) There is a viewpoint where you can admire the Môle reservoir below. Continue along the Sivadières track until you reach another intersection.

(8) Continue straight ahead, staying on the same track until you reach another intersection.

(9) Continue straight ahead and ignore the road on the right that would take you back to La Chartreuse. Follow the Route de la Crête de la Verne.

(10) A path leads up to the weather observatory, but a gate prevents access. This is a good place for a picnic as there are no more climbs after this, and you can enjoy a glimpse of the sea in good weather.

(11) On your right, you should see one or more cairns marking the start of a path. Continue along the same road. A little further on, ignore the track that branches off to the right (alternative route, see Practical Information).

(12) Turn right and walk through a pleasant shaded passage before starting the descent. At the bottom, turn left and follow the track. At the bend in the road, you will have a superb view of the Plateau Lambert, a huge meadow in the middle of the forest. Continue along the track, skirting a pine plantation, until you reach the corner of the Plateau Lambert.

(13) You will find yourself in front of a stand of eucalyptus trees. If you continue a little further along the trail, you will see a gate on the right, allowing you to get a closer look at the menhirs.

(14) (Optional): Walk through the trees to reach a stream with a waterfall. It's the perfect place to dip your feet and let your dogs drink!
Then retrace your steps and go around the plateau, passing under the eucalyptus trees to reach the forest house.

(15) Admire the enormous chestnut tree stump as you pass, then take the track behind the house. Continue, ignoring a track on the left.

(16) When you reach this intersection, turn right onto the Piste des Pountches, which descends. Continue until you reach a tarmac road.

(17) At the road, turn left and walk for about 30 minutes to reach the car park (S/E).

.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 351 m - Croix d'Anselme car park
  2. 1 : km 0.83 - alt. 310 m - Ford
  3. 2 : km 1.38 - alt. 359 m - Intersection
  4. 3 : km 2.67 - alt. 335 m - Intersection
  5. 4 : km 2.76 - alt. 337 m - Côte Raide
  6. 5 : km 4.04 - alt. 510 m - Intersection
  7. 6 : km 4.97 - alt. 423 m - Chartreuse
  8. 7 : km 5.98 - alt. 440 m - Viewpoint
  9. 8 : km 7.64 - alt. 502 m - Intersection
  10. 9 : km 8.99 - alt. 522 m - Intersection
  11. 10 : km 11.12 - alt. 597 m - Weather Station
  12. 11 : km 11.41 - alt. 595 m - Cairns
  13. 12 : km 12.58 - alt. 612 m - Intersection
  14. 13 : km 14.95 - alt. 474 m - Lambert Plateau
  15. 14 : km 15.05 - alt. 467 m - Stream - Waterfall
  16. 15 : km 15.86 - alt. 493 m - Forest House
  17. 16 : km 17.13 - alt. 493 m - Intersection
  18. 17 : km 19.13 - alt. 391 m - Tarmac road
  19. S/E : km 20.33 - alt. 351 m - Croix d'Anselme car park

Notes

Remember to bring:
- A good pair of shoes
- 2 litres of water per person
- Sunglasses
- Cap/hat

Variations: If you go straight to point (3), you will arrive directly at point (9). You will then need to turn left to reach the Chartreuse de la Verne.

After (11), you can take this path if you want to shorten your hike and avoid the Lambert plateau. A steep 2 km descent leads to a track. Turn right onto this track to reach point (2) shortly afterwards.

Worth a visit

(6) Chartreuse de la Verne: if you wish to visit, allow £6 and an hour of your time (closed on Tuesdays).
Info: Chartreuse de la Verne

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
Zeb83
Zeb83

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk in the Maures mountains with views of the Verne dam. Sometimes between the sea and the mountains, offering incredible landscapes.
As with all the hikes on the website, the times shown do not correspond at all to the actual walking time required to complete the entire route (or else the authors are doing the circulars twice).
Sometimes there are too many details in the explanations, sometimes not enough to reach the start of a hike or follow a route that, it should be noted, is not as well marked as they are in the mountains.
I would therefore ask the authors to be brief but effective in their route posts and more consistent with the times.

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Xzitoune31
Xzitoune31

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good route, also suitable for mountain biking provided you take the road at the start and the hairpin bends instead of the steep climb.

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fernandez
fernandez

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant hike

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Maryma
Maryma

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At the start, there is a pleasant path below the road. After that, you have to continue on the road. It's not long and there are very few cars, so it's not a problem. To make sure you don't miss the ford, turn at the Ragusse car park sign. You can't miss it! Otherwise, during this season, we only came across one group of hikers.
The paths and landscapes are very varied. A very pleasant hike.
The Chartreuse is open in February and can be visited for €7 per adult.
I recommend both the Chartreuse and the hike 😎
Read the other comments!

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bruken
bruken

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Starting from Croix d'Anselme and to avoid the D214 in order to reach La Chartreuse, we took a path that climbs northwards, leading to Col de Boulin and then to the small Boulin dam, which runs alongside the Boulin river, crossing it to La Verne, which we also cross. Follow the markings (orange circles) and cairns carefully until you reach the D214 (difficult passages). At this point, take the new path to the north, parallel to the D214, known as the "chemin des moines" (monks' path), which is easy going through the woods and leads to the foot of La Chartreuse. The last part of the path is overgrown but passable.
All along the paths, there are pink and white rockroses, hawkweeds, English lavender... and I'm forgetting some... Magnificent.
I walk with a compass and a copy of the IGN map on which I have marked the route of my hike. No problem.

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ClementPos
ClementPos

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in February. A really enjoyable route, allowing you to explore the Chartreuse and the Lambert plateau. Several areas also offer beautiful views of the Maures mountains and are ideal for a lunch break! No difficult sections and no trouble following the route with GPS. We completed the route in 6 hours, including a 30-minute break at the Chartreuse and a 30-minute lunch break. Be aware that a large part of the hike is on ridges with no shade, so it may be best to avoid this route in the height of summer!

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Delphine DE LUCA
Delphine DE LUCA

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

To do in autumn for the colours, picking arbutus berries, and buying chestnut products in Collobrières.
A beautiful hike, wonderful discoveries, lots of flowers too...
There are indeed a few hunters on the trail, so be careful with dogs. Every Thursday, there are hunts.
Just be very careful to find the right path when you're in the eucalyptus forest.

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CFr
CFr

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike. Depending on the time of year, check with Collobrières Town Hall for information about any hunting parties taking place.
We cut across at point 11 to avoid ending up on the Lambert plateau, where a hunt was taking place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Thursday 22/10/20).
GPS very useful.

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lesdecouvreurs
lesdecouvreurs

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The hike is not difficult, and the Visorando GPS app is useful for locating the small path at the start. Between points 11 and 12 in particular, it is easy to make a mistake and go straight ahead, as the path on the right is difficult to see due to the vegetation. The view of the Verne reservoir is less impressive on this route because you are too far away. However, when coming from the village of La Molle, you pass very close to the dam and get a better view of the Chartreuse de la Verne as you climb towards it.

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cav83
cav83

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, alternating between woodland and open sunshine.

At point 11, the cairns are not so easy to see, so be extra vigilant if you are not equipped with a GPS.

At point 14, a large number of eucalyptus trees have been cut down.

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gerardpierre
gerardpierre

In January, the Verne Charterhouse is closed to the public.

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gerardpierre
gerardpierre

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

This hike is somewhat difficult because the path becomes narrow after a few kilometres.

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amitié nature
amitié nature

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

With your GPS track recorded and your directions, plus the Top 25, I drove without hesitation on this beautiful hike on a beautiful autumn day.
Following your instructions, to shorten the route, which was too ambitious for us, at point 11 we took the small path that leads directly back to point 2. This reduced the hike to 14.5 km.
This path is narrow but well maintained: it appears to be regularly cleared and pruned. The descent through the woods is steep at first but not difficult.

To find the start of this path at point 11, you just need to be very vigilant and look out for the two pretty but discreet cairns on the edge of the track, which is somewhat overgrown. Other cairns follow and confirm that you are going in the right direction.

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LaurianeCountry
LaurianeCountry

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike surrounded by autumn colours. Two hikes in one, as it combines the Chartreuse de la Verne to the east and the Plateau Lambert to the west. Lots of forest paths offering a wide variety of vegetation.
No particular difficulty. Apart from a short, fairly steep 1 km climb, the ascent is gradual.

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